OK, so, let me first state for the record that I hate arguments. I don't think on my feet, and it takes me a while to make a point that is well thought-out/argued. I don't like to debate, even if it's "friendly".
Last night, some friends and I went to a little cafe after class. Sometimes we have kind of intense discussions, and last night was the case. I wish I could say that I left that conversation encouraged to pursue God more, that I was able to glimpse a new part of His character, that I came to a greater revelation of God's love for me, that I felt convicted and/or encouraged. But that was not the case.
Here's the problem. We are a bunch of people. With ideas. Normal. But the problem is that we think our ideas are "right", or that the ideas of others are "right". I grew tired quickly of talking about things that should be backed up with scripture but mostly were backed up with our thoughts or someone elses. We were talking about things, which is fine, but there were so many points that were just based on someone else's "feelings" or thoughts about a certain issue. Thats why I hate arguements. Because I don't feel I know God's word well enough to argue something into the ground. And so I don't...b/c I don't want to mislead anyone with my own ideas and thoughts about someone so Holy, Sovreign, Other-Than as God.
But here's what I walked away with. And these are my thoughts. I don't have scripture for this. If someone has scripture to change this point of view, please let me know:
-My relationship with God is not about sinning or not sinning. Its about LOVE. His love for me and my love for Him. Anything I do or don't do is based on His love for me, not a list of do's and don'ts. I don't believe that I will ever be sinless, not even for one day, until I meet Him in heaven. I have thoughts that are not about God...I get a fleeting moment of jealousy. That's sin. So, I press in to God, every day giving my heart, letting His love and the Holy Spirit carry me. For so long I've beat myself up for what I do/don't do, but its not about that for me anymore.
-This came out of a conversation about the fact that the organization I work for has an ad in revelant magazine. And it was said "The end's don't justify the means". How is that biblical? Where does it say that? What I find Paul saying is this:
19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 3:19-23)
So you know what? I am ok with an ad being in Relevant magazine. I may not agree with it, but no where in scripture does it say "The end's don't justify the means." Paul got down on the level of the people he was trying to minister to. He was not Jewish by religion. Yet he ministered to them where they were. He was not weak, yet he became weak. There are growing levels of Christian maturity. I read relevant magazine at one point, and it did help me grow in my faith. I'm tired of arguing about this point...I ran it into the ground in Charlotte. I'm tired of sitting around judging other Christians.
Go love someone.
this is my blog.
1 comment:
parts of it were frustrating, yes. and it's a moot point on whether or not an organization has an ad in a magazine. I agree with God using whatever it takes to get his point across. He used a donkey, he can use Relevant Magazine.
the fact that they were quoting pearcy and ravenhill and piper, and not backing up with scripture, i'm going to disagree with you on. mainly because i HAVE read pearcy and piper, and have listened to Ravenhill, i know that every time they make a claim they ground it in scripture. but its true, if we are going to be discussing Godly things, we need to be making sure we're not just being idiots and blabbing about our own feelings and thoughts and make sure it's legitimately in scripture. i don't like arguements, and i dont think lastnight was one. i think it was miscommunication (which seems to happen with this group of people a lot, in respect to the rest of the conversation) that got taken way too far. its a sad fact, we only hear what we want/don't want to hear, and don't sit and wait for the true meaning to come out. we use eisegesis in our interpretation of what people say, not just scripture. i think that's what it was coming down to.
yes. love people. but the issue of sin IS a large one. my coworker today said to me "i know that i'm sinning, and no one is going to be perfect until they die. and i told my pastor that the sins i have right now i'm ok with. i don't want to change them. there's no condemnation in christ"
and i had to point him to the chapter before that in romans (ch 7) and the rest of ch8, because sin is NOT excusable. to have a "whatever" attitude against it is to say "hey satan! come get me! i'm standing still!" when we should be RUNNING and disciplining our bodies.
hopefully this doesn't make you not want to hang out and discuss things ever again.
and i love you.
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